Local Volunteers Keep Project Timothy Alive

DAYTON - In tough economic times, charitable organizations become essen- tial in every community. And when the donations are slow coming in, Project Timothy volunteers say you've got to have faith.

There are different vol- unteers every day Project Timothy is open, but the or- ganization still practices the same thing -- helping people in need.

Project Timothy offers food, clothing, emergency shelter, rent payment as- sistance, utilities assistance, medical/prescription assis- tance, transportation, transient aide, spiritual direction and referrals to other counseling for individuals and families in need.

Columbia County provides some funding for housing programs, created by a percentage of money that goes to the county after real estate transactions, and food vouchers.

But the majority of the program funding comes from local people and or- ganizations donating to the cause.

Wayne Peterson said he and his wife Ruth were encouraged to volunteer for the program when it went from hiring paid office staff to vol- unteers. The now 21-year- old program seemed like something Peterson and Ruth wanted to do, but they didn't expect to be involved in it for as long as they have been. Now, 10 years later, the couple still devotes an afternoon every week to hold down the office and take care of those who need their help.

Project Timothy has sev- en full-time volunteers and two substitutes, all of whom volunteer one day a week.

While the project is centered in Dayton, it does reach out to residents in Waitsburg and Starbuck although some of the programs are only able to fund Columbia County citizens, Peterson said.

But where Project Timo- thy is unable to help for county-specific funding is- sues, there is also a helpline for Walla Walla County.

Some of the programs Project Timothy offers might be overlooked by other sup- port agencies. The swim- ming program, for instance, isn't something government aid will have specific fund- ing for. Two different groups donated to the swimming program this year, Ruth said. And because of those donations, 15 families were able to have free swim passes to the Dayton pool.

Volunteers for Project Timothy come from different sects of Christianity, coming together for the same pur- pose. The group has grown substantially in the Petersons' time, Peterson said.

"We receive much more in donations than we did 10 years ago," Peterson said. "People have really helped. It's amazing to see how much people can give."

The group made a big change three years ago in an attempt to spend less money on housing and more on the people and families who need it.

The group packed up from its long-time Main Street location and moved across the street into a small office into St. Vincent De Paul.

"It has worked out really well," Ruth said.

The smaller office has al- lowed the program to reduce heating, electricity and rent bills.

And that money is able to go back into the group's big- gest project, the Christmas boxes.

About 50 families receive help from Project Timothy each month, Ruth said. The biggest donation families receive is the Christmas box drive the project does each year.

Eighty-five boxes with food for families are given out each holiday season. The boxes contain a ham, pota- toes, rolls, canned goods and pie for families that would otherwise struggle or be unable to provide food for the holidays.

The boxes are purchased with money donated to the program by community members and businesses. The total bill is about $6,000 for the baskets, Peterson said.

The boxes are donated during the third week of December every year and the drive to raise money and get the boxes together is the only drive the program does to encourage people to donate.

As for donations beyond the annual Christmas drive?

"Most of them are routine monthly donations," Ruth said. "For the rest of the donations, we rely on faith."

Project Timothy is lo- cated on Main Street in the St. Vincent De Paul build- ing. They are open from 12 to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.